The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-09-29
NERVOUS DAY."

vous, irritable women that about half
the time make themselves and every one
around them miserable. She had been
having one of her regular nervous days,
as she styled them, and everything had
gone wrong.
Little Freddy only four years old and
their only child, had been banished
from the sitting-room, although he had
pleaded hard to stay and "loot at his
pity pitter book" S,nta Claus brought
him, and had promised, with such a
resolute air, that he would be $50
stilly;;" but no. his mamma wanted to
lie down on the lounge, and he must 20
'ut to play.
Mr.. and Mrs. Stanhopc were not
wealthy, so Freddy did not have nurse
to look after him. no one but old Tow
ser, the faithful Newfoundland watch
dog, who was years older than his little
master, and who had watched him faith
<ully ever since he was wee baby.
Ms. Stanhope had just settled herself
on the lounge and taken up tho last
magazine, which she thought might
quiet her nerves little, when, bang!
went the outside door, as only a healthy
boy, full of spirits, could shut it, and
the next instant Freddy bounded into
the sittingroom upsetting chair and
tumbling headlong over footstool.
A spasm, as Of pain, crossed his
mothers face, and she raised her hand
as though to ward off a blow, exclaim-
'ngly frctfully:
ooh, Freddy, what naughty boy you
arc! why can't you stay out and play
when mamma feels so9'
"Mamma mamma !" exclaimed
Freddy, who hal by this time regained
his equilibrium, AMI who did not in the
least mind the tumble or his mothers
fretful speech; "me is havin' such fun!
ct me tell o."
"No, no, Freddy" interrupted his
mother; ~ don't want to hear; run out
again and play. You may do anything
you choose, only let me have little
quiet"
Freddy looked disappointed and
stood pouting his cherry lips, with one
chubby finger stuck between them.
Did you hear, Freddy" reiterated
his mother, rising her voice. "Ain't
you going to mind9 l told you to go
out; now start"
The child walked slowly 'out of the
room. On the hall rug lay Towser, and
Freddy impulsively threw his arms
around his hairy friends neck and burst
INTO tears.
"NIe did ont to tell cr Towdcr, me
did," he sobbed; but his grief and dis
appointment was of short duration, for
in few moments he sprang up and ran
out into the yard, followed by Towser.
After Freddy went out, Mrs. Stanhopc
tried in vain to get interested in the
magazine; at last she threw it petulantly
from her and lying back upon the cush-
ions, closed her eyes. Soon sweet,
delicious languor stole over her; she was
riding in Mrs Grahams exquisite
Srougham.
Mrs Graham was widow lady who
lived just across the way, and who was
worth over half million, report said !;
and whose superb horses and elegant
carriages little Mrs. Stanhope had often
admired, and, if the truth must be told,
,nvicd.
Then the scene changed; she was ly-
! ing there on the lounge in her pleasant
sitting-room, listening to the sweetest
music she ever heard Suddenly there
was scream from Freddy, an energetic
bow WOW from Towser, and an exclama-
tion of fright from Kitty, the servant
girl, as she ran hastily out into the yard.
An underlined feeling of terror filed
the heart of Mrs. Stanhope; she tried to
rise, but found her strength had entirely
deserted her; and pale as death, with
eyes closed, she lay there longing, yet
1rcading, to hear what hal happened.
In few moments it seemed hours to
her---she hcird Kitty come in. There
was another step too. not Freddy's; she
listened in vain for the patter of his lit
tie feet The steps pausel at the sit
ting-room door, which was ajar. She
knew intui,ively they were lookingin.
"lIist! do not make q noise; she is
fast asleep" she heard Kitty say in q
whisper. 1T will be trouble enough tc
her to know when she wakes, poor
uarvous crature."
j zone of his horns went clean through, ,
sss heard ths ether voice ny, and which